Amending the Constitution
An amendment is defined as a minor addition to a document. Our Constitution is primarily a rigid set of guidelines and law. But it can also be altered and adjusted if it becomes necessary. The process of adding an amendment to the Constitution is difficult for good reason. Once an amendment is made it cannot be removed. The only way to change it is to ratify another amendment to which repeals the one that must be altered. It is important that there is a way to adjust the Constitution as our nation matures and lives through different eras.
There are two steps before an amendment can be ratified. It must first be proposed by a two-thirds vote by both houses of Congress (House of Representatives and the Senate) or two-thirds of the 50 states can ask for a Constitutional convention called by Congress. In the second step the proposed amendment is ratified by either three-fourths of the states or three-fourths of special constitutional conventions called by the 50 states.
As of 2013 there are 27 Amendments to our Constitution. The first ten of these are called The Bill of Rights.
If this subject of Constitutional Amendments interests you, you can follow this link to view what the amendments are. http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_amendments_11-27.html
There are two steps before an amendment can be ratified. It must first be proposed by a two-thirds vote by both houses of Congress (House of Representatives and the Senate) or two-thirds of the 50 states can ask for a Constitutional convention called by Congress. In the second step the proposed amendment is ratified by either three-fourths of the states or three-fourths of special constitutional conventions called by the 50 states.
As of 2013 there are 27 Amendments to our Constitution. The first ten of these are called The Bill of Rights.
If this subject of Constitutional Amendments interests you, you can follow this link to view what the amendments are. http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_amendments_11-27.html